I watched as the House of Representatives passed HR 4156 to approve $50 billion dollars for the war in Iraq.
I heard cheers and claps come from the left side of the aisle. Speaker Pelosi had a smile on her face.
The perception among Democrats regarding the passage of this legislation is a symbolic victory and a devastating blow to President Bush.
Only a portion of the funds Bush requested will be appropriated with strict conditions such as redeploying our troops from Iraq and a total change in their mission.
In theory it sounds great. But in the end it is just what the Democrats perceive it to be - symbolic. It is all bark and no bite.
Senate majority leader Reid warned that if the Senate doesn't muster the votes to pass the bill (calling for a timeline for troop withdrawal) for Bush to veto there will be no more funding for Iraq. Bush reacted with a veto threat.
What happens then? Will the Democrats stand there ground? If so, what does that mean?
If the Democrats actually deny funding to Bush it is just basic math. Denying funding = cutting off money for the war. It would be an actual demonstration of exercising the "power of the purse." Do the Democrats have the courage to do that? The answer is obvious - NO.
Now just for a moment try to imagine that the bill passed both houses of Congress and was signed by Bush. The fact that the bill is non-binding means that Bush could just take the money and run. He doesn't have to comply with any demands to pull troops out and change course in Iraq.
Once he gets the money he will cook up another excuse for why the troops need to stay there. It has been proven time and time again that the man is a total pathological liar.
I don't mean to come down on this attempt by the Democrats to force change, but I am a realist and I know that this bill is not going anywhere. I'm not claiming to be an expert, but I have been down this road before. We all have.
One of the main reasons for Bush's stubbornness is the fact that he is not going to be impeached. Bush knows this because Speaker Pelosi took impeachment off the table. It sent a message to Bush that he can operate however he wishes. Therefore he has no motivation to cooperate with Congress. It is just that simple.
I hate to be the bearer of bad news and I surely don't want to rain on anyone's parade ... but come on people. This whole thing is a charade.
When you see members of Congress promoting this legislation it gives the impression that it actually means something substantial. Like it is some kind of legal mandate requiring Bush to do a total 360 on his Iraq policy. Don't be fooled.
Knowledge is power. If your members of Congress know that you are privy to their participation in the political process they may be more reluctant to insult your intelligence by expecting you to be duped by non-binding legislation that they know will surely fail.
In order for them to know you must express it to them. Call their office or stop in for a visit. Have a nice little chat with their staff and ask them to convey the message to the Representative. Let them know you are educating and organizing others in their district as well. Do anything it takes to get their attention and put them on the spot every chance you get.
It is Congress that must end the war in Iraq and they have the power to do it. They just need to be tougher and more intimidating when dealing with Bush.
I know that sounds primitive in nature, but this man can not be handed any more money for his bloodbath in Iraq without "binding" limitations on how he can spend it.
This is a life and death situation. If we cheer the Democrats on with this we ourselves are playing politics with people's lives - American and Iraqi.
Some may not believe this but I am a Democrat. But I feel like a Democrat in need of rehabilitation. Once my party starts showing backbone I'll be a recovering Democrat--if that makes any sense. Sort of like a 12 step program.
Until that time comes I'll continue to drive on in my efforts to push both sides of the aisle (Republicans and Democrats) to end this war.
John Bruhns
Iraq Veteran
PS. I am already in eager anticipation to see if the Democrats throw this back in Bush's face after the veto, provided it makes it to his desk. That is all they will have to do to redeem themselves in my eyes.
In solidarity,
John Bruhns
Why do you continue to Believe in BushCO?
BushCo has NO HONOR.
BushCO has NO SHAME.
BushCO has NO restraint.
ONLY impeachment can stop BushCo.
Basically, our
representatives are in a tough spot of having
to make some fairly heavy decisions on a lot
of issues, it's probably a fairly unenviable
job, but, then again, that's why they get the
Big Bucks, because They got chosen to do it.
I just hope that when it's their turn at-bat
on this war thing that they don't just whiff
the ball, try and score a 1st down at 3rd base
with a slapshot etc. Part of the reason that
we're so badly in debt is because there's a
history of these people being so corrupt and
incompetent that they'll sign any damn
spending bill you'd care to type up, as long
as they get a slice. I just think that's
Not Cool. I also think there's been arm-twisting
by people that like to drill oil wells,
like Dick Tater, and that's Not Cool, either.
Well, I could blather on, but that pretty
much sums it up.
http://www.impeachbush.org
into court. The war's either right and legal,
or it's not, and if you review the different
sites that are talking about impeachment, they
tend to suggest the latter, and if that's
honestly the case, then the first person they
need to can, in my view, is Speaker 'impeachment
is off the table' Pelosi. That's kind of part
of the point of all of this, we don't need
more simpering lackeys and yep-yeps, we
need more people like Dennis who are going
to stand up, say 'this is FUCKED UP'(I don't
think he actually used those words, but
maybe he should have), and do something to
end it, and not cut the dog's tail off one inch
at a time. All 435 of em need to be decidererers
and not just be honorary IHOP employees turning
out stacks of waffles.
I think the Iraq war was as wrong as 2 boys,
well, one of those man-date things. I think
a lot of people shamelessly cleaned out the
treasury in the name of 'democracy' or 'defense'
or whatever B.S. you think will fit here-->____.
War profiteering, in short, and when I see
Waxman talking to long lines of former
'defense' people about how they now OWE
the 'gummit' millions and billions of
dollars, forced divestiture and whatnot, then
I'll start having a little more faith in
Congresserer. But, for the now, they really
have to step up and take charge of this entire
thing. Why? Well, because among other things,
the clock is ticking.
Part II follows(damn 350 word limit)
From Goldstar families -
Nancy Pelosi is reported to have replied to the question of impeachment that if she received 10,000 hand written letters she would proceed with it. What are we waiting for?
Cindy Sheehan wrote this:
Dear Friends
Instead of sending your impeachment letters for Dick Cheney to Nancy Pelosi's office, send them to my office so we can get an official count.
Please send them to:
Nancy Pelosi
c/o Cindy Sheehan
RE: Impeach Dick Cheney
1260 Mission Blvd
San Francisco, Ca 94103
Please pass this around and have them sent by Friday, November 16th and we will have them delivered to her office in San Francisco before Thanksgiving.
Spread this far and wide so we can take sacks of letters to her.
Don't include anything besides the letter.
Love
Cindy
at some point we need to decide, as a society, how much bad behavior we will tolerate before applying the brakes.
personally, i would have braked sooner....in my book, the midterm election was almost too late.
d
Instead, they keep trying to find something that can be passed that Repugs can swallow.
Unfortunately, there is nothing other than STAY THE COURSE for the fascist in power.
When will Dems understand this?
There is a true opportunity here for a better performance than any we've seen so far. If the Democrats just refuse to vote on anything other than the approach currently on the table, even that will be a vast improvement over anything they've given us to date.